Background
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UNโs global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions to global and national development challenges to help empower lives and build resilient nations.
The Pacific region is facing considerable economic and social development challenges due to the increasing impact of climate change and geo-hazards. At the same time, development in these countries is potentially increasing this vulnerability to climate change and disasters. The Framework for Resilient Development in the Pacific (FRDP), endorsed in 2016 by Pacific leaders, demonstrates a clear recognition that managing climate change and disaster related risk must be undertaken in the context of economic development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific (Gov4Res) Project works with Pacific governments to ensure that countries adapt their decision making and governance systems towards more resilient development. The projects theory of change rests on a core assumption that Pacific Island people will be more resilient to the impacts of climate change and disasters if countries manage all development through a risk informed approach. The Gov4Res Project, now in Phase 2, works across six Pacific countries and programs two interconnected but distinct outcomes for its work: Outcome 1: PIC governance systems enable gender and socially inclusive resilient development; Outcome 2: PICs weave learning to advocate for and communicate gender and socially inclusive resilient development.
The project is partnering with a range of partners to deliver this project across the Pacific including Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK FCDO).
The Project Resilience Specialist will work in close coordination with the Government of Fiji to support and strengthen its financial management systems and capacity for greater efficiency and accountability. Additionally, the Specialist will will be responsible for coordinating, managing, disbursing and evaluating the Gov4Res SGI. The Specialist will support Gov4Res project management and implementation, capacity development, development of knowledge products and communication materials for risk informed initiatives. S/he will liaise and coordinate with project stakeholders including non-government organisations, local government, national government and regional partner agencies and provide technical and capacity development support as required. ย
Duties and Responsibilities
The position will report to the UNDP Governance for Resilient Development in the Pacific Project Manager in coordination with the Capacity Development Specialist for the Project under the overall guidance of the Effective Governance Team Leader. They will be responsible for management of technical consultants and work in collaboration with other members of the UNDP Pacific Office and key partners.ย
Working under the overall supervision of the Governance for Resilience Project Manager in coordination with the Capacity Development Specialist, the Project Resilience Specialist will be responsible for the following: ย
Manage Fiji portfolio of risk-informed development initiatives
Coordinate and act as focal point to improve overall operational efficiency of Gov4Res initiatives in Fiji and ensure compliance with UNDP rules, regulations, policies of financial activities and financial reporting system.ย Contribute to planning, monitoring, and reporting and assist project partners in providing solutions to issues related to finance, procurement, and other administrative activities. Provision of support to the MERL specialist and communications specialist on data, information, quotes, stories etc. that contribute to project monitoring and evaluation processes and communications.ย Ensure timely production of high-quality deliverables from technical consultants and manage all aspects of technical support engagement.ย Track and monitor project expenditures against planned budgets to ensure conformity with a Letter of Agreement (LoA) and work plan and advise project partners and UNDP on the gaps between budgets and expenditures for taking actions.ย Identify high risk areas requiring special attention and support from the Gov4Res team and devise plans to minimize or eliminate risks in completing project activities in close coordination with project partners and UNDP team.ย Ensure the quality and financial compliances of documents of projects, agreements with donors, government and non-government counterparts, grants, and other important documents deemed necessary. Establish and maintain a strong relationship with government counterparts for the successful achievement of project outputs through ensuring risks for implementing partnership management are identified and mitigation measures put in place.Provide strategic and technical advice in the implementation of risk-informed development initiatives in Fiji and across the Pacific region
Provide high-level technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions on risk informing development in relation to strategic planning, legal and regulatory frameworks, planning and budgeting, sub-national planning, public financial management and sectoral activities to support realization of risk informed development. Identify additional entry points for risk informing planning and budgeting, partnering with relevant ministries including those responsible for finance and planning.ย Coordinate Gov4Res implementation across project partners in Fiji and implement necessary initiatives to ensure effective coordination including hosting monthly coordination meetings.ย In collaboration with the MERL Specialists and Gov4Res Learning and Advocacy team facilitate activities to strengthen relevant peer to peer learning, bringing value to all stakeholders.ย Facilitate leadership/capacity building/training initiatives and events to build capacity, raise awareness and encourage expansion and adoption of resilient development, share global leading practice, and coordinate regular activities to identify opportunities for capacity building in the resilient development space.ยProvide project management and partnership building support to the regional Small Grants Initiative (SGI)ย
ย Manage the inception phase of the initiative including coordinating all consultation missions to targeted countries, development of relevant inception design documents and selection of consultation stakeholders. Support facilitation and implementation of Gov4Res small grant initiative through the organization and facilitation of information sessions, coordination and communication with potential grantees and support for proposal development, risk assessment and capacity building processes. Manage the work of technical consultants/support engaged to support the SGI, ensuring timely production of high-quality deliverables.ย Collaborate closely with the SGI monitoring and evaluation focal point and communications focal point to ensure effective and relevant M&E and communications across the SGI.ย Manage implementation of M&E and Communications plans and ensure the development and dissemination of knowledge and communication products. Actively promote a knowledge sharing and learning culture within the project team and the project partners.ย Support GEDSI mainstreaming throughout the SGI project life cycle, including design, planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Support the Gov4Res team to capture and disseminate lessons learned particularly related to GEDSI during SGI project implementation. Provide SGI specific financial and technical reporting internally and to stakeholders and development partners as required. Together with the PM, design and develop resource mobilization strategies for additional, funding support, within and beyond the current SGI project duration; engage with potential donors and support the negotiations in establishing new donor agreements. Participates in relevant meetings and forums, representing the SGI project, as per guidance of the PM. As required, provide support and advice to the Gov4Res team more broadly.Systems and Capacity Strengthening of project partners in the development and implementation of risk-informed development initiatives
Assist project partners in developing policies, procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for system strengthening within the project scope. Design and implement systems and capacity development plans including on-the-job training and training sessions on project and financial management for stakeholders.ย Facilitate knowledge management and sharing including a synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices from a project management and risk-informed development perspective. Provide advice, guidance and support to project partners on HACT and Audit policies and procedures and act as HACT focal point in collaboration with Operations team and MPO.ย Participate in the review of assessments and assurance reports to identify areas for improvement related to the implementation of HACT framework and propose capacity development actions for project partners. Share HACT assessment reports with project partners and UNDP team, especially reports of assurance activities, to ensure adequate awareness and follow-up of identified issues.Perform other duties within the functional duties assigned and deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the project/UNDP Programme as well as close coordination with the UNDP MCO in Fiji and Resident Coordinatorโs Office, aligning programming with UN agencies implementation in Fiji.ย
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Competencies
Core Competencies:ย
Achieve Results: LEVEL 3: Set and align challenging, achievable objectives for multiple projects, have lasting impactย Think Innovatively: LEVEL 3: Proactively mitigate potential risks, develop new ideas to solve complex problemsย Learn Continuously: LEVEL 3: Create and act on opportunities to expand horizons, diversify experiences Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 3: Proactively initiate and champion change, manage multiple competing demandsย Act with Determination: LEVEL 3: Think beyond immediate task/barriers and take action to achieve greater results Engage and Partner: LEVEL 3: Political savvy, navigate complex landscape, champion inter-agency collaboration Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 3: Appreciate benefits of diverse workforce and champion inclusivityCross-Functional & Technical competencies:
Operations: Administration, Finance, HR, Procurement, IT and Security
Policy and Programme (2030 Agenda: Engagement & Effectiveness
Effectiveness: Capacities on aid transparencyExternal Relations and Advocacyย
Partnership Management | Relationship Management: Ability to engage with a wide range of public and private partners, build, sustain and/or strengthen working relations, trust and mutual understandingBusiness Direction & Strategyย ย ย
System Thinking: Ability to use objective problem analysis and judgement to understand how interrelated elements coexist within an overall process or system, and to consider how altering one element can impact on other parts of the systemBusiness Developmentย
Knowledge Generation: Ability to research and turn information into useful knowledge, relevant for context, or responsive to a stated needBusiness Managementย
Project Management: Ability to plan, organize, prioritize and control resources, procedures and protocols to achieve specific goals Operations Management: Ability to effectively plan, organise and oversee different parts of corporate operations, simultaneously and in an integrated way, in order to convert the organisationโs assets into the best results in the most efficient way. Knowledge of relevant concepts and mechanisms.Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in management, social science, communications, finance, economics, development, climate change or related field. Orย A first-level university degree (Bachelorโs degree) in the above fields combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience will be given due consideration in lieu of the advanced university degree.Experience:
Minimum 5 years (with masterโs degree) or 7 years (with bachelorโs degree) of work experience in project implementation and/or coordination and/or knowledge management and/or communications support.ย Demonstrated experience of supporting implementation of projects in the development sector, including supporting communications and visibility. Demonstrated experience in managing small grant initiatives and working closely with grantees, providing technical and administrative support. Experience collaborating with national and international organizations in the Pacific. Working knowledge and experience of risk informed development and/or climate change and disaster risk. Experience in delivering training/capacity/institutional building support to a range of stakeholders.ย Experience with a multidisciplinary and multicultural team, preferably with the UN or with international organizations.ยRequired Languages:
Fluency in English (written and oral) is required.ย Fluency in iTaukei and/or Fiji Hindi (as national language) is required. Fluency in additional UN languages is an added advantage.ย
Equal opportunity
As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination.ย
UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.
Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority
UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles.ย
Right to select multiple candidates
UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.ย We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.
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